Lithuania quits global landmine ban citing Russia threat

Lithuania has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw from the international treaty banning anti-personnel landmines, citing security concerns over Russia.

Lithuania announced Friday it has notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, the global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.

The decision was shared by the country’s foreign minister on X. Lithuania will no longer be bound by the treaty six months after the notification date.

Parliaments in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland have also approved similar withdrawals. All five countries are members of both NATO and the European Union and share borders with Russia.

The governments cite heightened military risks from Moscow as the main reason for leaving the agreement.

The Ottawa Convention, adopted in 1997, prohibits the use, production and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines.

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Lithuania Ottawa Convention NATO landmine ban